Mary Lea was born in Cross Timbers, Mo., on October 1, 1915, the daughter of Joseph and Orene (Crawford) Scruggs. She was a graduate of Central Missouri State University. Mary Lea was a teacher who began her career in a one-room school house in Centertown, Mo. She retired from the Kansas City School District, where she had been a first grade teacher and school secretary. She will be remembered as an active and spirited lady who enjoyed reading, sewing, painting, doing crossword puzzles, and exercising at the Fit for Life Gym. She also enjoyed playing bridge and dominoes. Mary Lea was a volunteer for the Medical Center of Independence Gift Shop for more than 30 years and was recognized as Volunteer of the Year. She was a member of Northern Boulevard United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. She was a member and held many offices in both the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Alpha Delta Kappa teacher's sorority. She married Eldred W. Anderson in Oak Grove, Mo., in July of 1940. He preceded her in death on March 15, 1999.

She is survived by a son, Ron Anderson and his wife, Linda, of Lee's Summit, Mo.; and a grandson, Nathan Anderson.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Northern Boulevard United Methodist Church, Independence. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Kansas City. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Carson-Speaks Chapel, Independence, 816-252-7900. Memorial contributions may be made to Northern Boulevard United Methodist Church, 1800 Northern Blvd., Independence, Mo. 64052.